American Mike stayed firmly on course for the Weatherbys Champion Bumper with victory in the Future Champions INH Flat Race at Navan.
Running in the colours of Noel and Valerie Moran's Bective Stud, the Gordon Elliott-trained four-year-old made his debut under rules at Down Royal in October and was sent off at 1-8 under Jamie Codd to follow up.
Leading two furlongs out, the Mahler gelding strolled further clear to beat Battling Bessie by 17 lengths.
American Mike saunters clear in the Future Champions INH Flat Race! 💥
— Navan Racecourse (@NavanRacecourse) December 18, 2021
A good victory ahead of some tough assignments next year for @CoddJJ and @gelliott_racing 🏇 pic.twitter.com/6cHWRzeyZy
Clear favourite for his Cheltenham target in March, Elliott said of American Mike: "I'm very happy with him and he’s done what we expected. I don’t think he could have done any more. Jamie said it was a proper race and they went a good gallop.
"He could go for the Dublin Racing Festival, but I’d say he’ll go straight to Cheltenham.
"I think he’s a proper horse."
